Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.

So i posted this because I was hoping to find out more about Florence - not to start a huge fight about the character in different towns in the area.... I live downtown right now and I really enjoy it. I've lived in Pittsburgh and Chicago also - all these cities have character. I have also lived in many suburbs and I liked them just as much. If anyone can tell me useful information about Florence I would really appreciate it. I want to know how far away it is from downtown Cincinnati, what is there to do for fun there i.e. is there shopping, restaurants, movie theaters, etc. The cost of living in Florence seems really affordable and I'm wondering how long it's going to stay that way. Also, does the area have good schools. Maybe I wasn't specific enough in my first post - so if anyone could help me out that would be great. Thanks!

Florence is about a 10-12 mile drive from downtown Cincinnati. Yes, there is a lot of shopping in the area, particularly along Mall Road....the usual department stores such as Macy's, JCPenney and Sears in the mall itself, plus grocery stores and other mom-and-pop stores. There is a new movieplex, if I'm not mistaken, and tons of restaurants in the area. You're going to find all the usual amenities in Florence that you would find in the other main Cincinnati suburbs, so there really is no need to go to Cincinnati for anything. I can't speak for the school system down there, and I'm not entirely familiar with other "fun" things to do. That pretty much depends on your definition of "fun". Big Bone Lick State Park isn't too far away, and you'll find miniature golf places nearby - including at Sports of All Sorts. There is Turfway Park race track, and of course several regular golf courses.

As for the cost of living, I'm sure it's on par - if not a little cheaper - than the Ohio side of the river. I don't see that changing much without the entire area changing along with it. The Cincinnati area itself is a pretty low-cost place to live.

aside from it being the largest employment center in the region, it having substantially all of the arts and cultural attractions in the regions, the art museums, both professional sports teams, one of the best zoos in the country, the best restaurants in the region [9 of the top 10 in Cincinnati Magazine] the best architecture in the region, an art house movie theatre, a top 10 public library system and the largest park system in the region.

but if you want to go to a mutli plex and have dinner at TGIF Fridays after the all national chain mall, go to Florence

aside from it being the largest employment center in the region, it having substantially all of the arts and cultural attractions in the regions, the art museums, both professional sports teams, one of the best zoos in the country, the best restaurants in the region [9 of the top 10 in Cincinnati Magazine] the best architecture in the region, an art house movie theatre, a top 10 public library system and the largest park system in the region.

but if you want to go to a mutli plex and have dinner at TGIF Fridays after the all national chain mall, go to Florence

aside from it being the largest employment center in the region, it having substantially all of the arts and cultural attractions in the regions, the art museums, both professional sports teams, one of the best zoos in the country, the best restaurants in the region [9 of the top 10 in Cincinnati Magazine] the best architecture in the region, an art house movie theatre, a top 10 public library system and the largest park system in the region.

Oh, gag me. If that's the best Cincinnati can do, I'd rather move to Iowa.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlrosen

but if you want to go to a mutli plex and have dinner at TGIF Fridays after the all national chain mall, go to Florence

Or come up here to West Chester. But whatever you do, make sure you take I-275 so you can avoid going through Cincinnati. I-75 is a white knuckle experience on par with any thrill ride at Kings Island, and the city somehow thinks adding 1 lane in each direction is going to magically solve the region's transportation issues.

But FWIW, I was talking about the need to go to Cincinnati for groceries, or to see a movie, or to do banking, or to get a hair cut, or to shop for clothes, or visit a doctor, or enjoy a festival, or watch fireworks, or walk along the river. You see, there really is no need to go to Cincinnati for anything, unless you really want to. But sheesh....who'd want to?

Oh, gag me. If that's the best Cincinnati can do, I'd rather move to Iowa.

Or come up here to West Chester. But whatever you do, make sure you take I-275 so you can avoid going through Cincinnati. I-75 is a white knuckle experience on par with any thrill ride at Kings Island, and the city somehow thinks adding 1 lane in each direction is going to magically solve the region's transportation issues.

But FWIW, I was talking about the need to go to Cincinnati for groceries, or to see a movie, or to do banking, or to get a hair cut, or to shop for clothes, or visit a doctor, or enjoy a festival, or watch fireworks, or walk along the river. You see, there really is no need to go to Cincinnati for anything, unless you really want to. But sheesh....who'd want to?

aquila, good response, but not really ... You forgot to touch on one part of jlrosen's points:

Downtown is the region's largest employment center and Uptown is its second.

In other words ... If Downtown was somehow eliminated many, many, many West Chesterites would be without a job. Face it, Florence, WC, or Mason wouldn't be what they are today without Cincinnati.

As a perspective Cincy area resident, I actually found this thread very informative and useful.....

Hopefully not in a negative way, because it truly wasn't my intention for this to turn into a battle with anyone.

Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.